Book One – Chapter 10

The relentless hunter pursued, a seamless cascade of ripples chasing her as Midnight spiralled upwards and dashed across the vast cavern. With each turn, they collided, tearing and ripping at each other. The sprites, momentarily silenced by the intensity of the fight, kept their distance.

Midnight had vanquished beasts larger and stronger than herself, and she approached the shadebeast with equal ferocity and determination. Despite the hunger within her to confront him head-on, she refrained from reckless attacks. Aware of his size advantage, she understood that each blow she landed must count for three of his. She bode her time, evading his relentless assault time and again, seeking openings and opportune moments to strike. Several times, she landed skilful hits, tearing at his face and throat — but what would be deadly assaults in a battle between natural beasts offered her no advantage in a battle of darkness. She never succeeded in fully severing a part of him; the wounds she inflicted closed instantly, even as she attacked, before she could penetrate him entirely. Conversely, when he seized her, his attacks were brutally effective, further diminishing her with each vicious blow. In this clash of darkness, it was a battle of sheer mass and force. Midnight found herself constantly evading his direct assaults, forced to seek distance to prevent him from surging through her entirely with his immense form. She was still his prey.

Distance. The intensity of their battle escalated as the shadebeast surged ahead, ascending to the ceiling before launching assaults from above. Now, he was not merely attacking; with each evasion, each time Midnight dodged, he drove her back down.